Thursday, March 31, 2011

My Giveaway prize this time is Three Thousand....
Pennies!! [APRIL FOOLS! Sorry - I just couldn't resist.*G*]
This is a 2 day hop taking place on Friday, April 1st & Saturday, April 2nd. I am number 115 of over 200 stops!

Product Description
"Patricia Rice is a master storyteller."
-Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of Never Less than a Lady
Magic is her birthright...
The daughter of one of the strongest magical lineages, Ninian Malcom Siddons is a powerful witch. Determined to only use her magic for good, she lives a simple, solitary life as a healer in her village, where she meets Drogo.
A man of science doesn't believe in anything he can't see...
Lord Drogo Ives believes only logic and science can explain the wonders of the universe and doesn't believe the local folklore about Malcolm witches and Ives men, until he meets Ninian.
Despite the odds against them and their (many) differences, the bond between Drogo and Ninian grows stronger each moment they are together... until the chaos and danger surrounding them forces each to decide: their love... or their lives...

Review: She may not have true magical skills but her spirit is one of magic.

Ninian is a Malcolm daughter descended from a long heritage of witches who only give birth to daughters. Ninian is a gifted herbalist and healer in a small village. She is always on the outside of the crowd as the people are a bit afraid of the rumors of the Malcolm witches. Ninian doesn’t expect to ever have a family of her own because of her solitary life.

The large manor home near the village, is owned by Lord Ives but it has been vacant for many years. The Ives men only have sons and seemed doomed to have unhappy marriages. There is a history of an old Malcolm and Ives marriage that brought disaster to the house and village. Lord Drogo is a man of logic, math and science. Drogo is the head of the family and since he was a young teen he has been responsible for the family finances and the corralling of the rambunctious boys, legitimate and otherwise. He was never coddled as a boy and is not prone to express, or even allow himself to feel, much emotion. He thought he had escaped to the manor house to study stars and to get a break from the family duties.

When Ninian and Drogo meet it is like trying to put the earth and stars together but the draw between them is instant and overpowering. Drogo is used to controlling everyone in his family. Ninian is self sufficient and doesn’t need someone to control her. She needs someone to accept and love her. But Drogo doesn’t believe in love or witches or magic. Can they learn to accept and trust each other?

I thought this portion succinctly presents their problem (and it sounded so familiar as in my DH and myself!) “He’d given up any hope of logic from her months ago. She had a brain. She just didn’t use it as he did.” p 267.

This book flows smoothly and beautifully. Ninian is such a giving and warm character and she draws the cool, unemotional Drogo into her joy. I love the magical feeling that this author weaves into her stories. I have read one of the other books in the “Magic” series of Malcolms and Ives and I have several more on my TBR shelf as this is an author worth collecting.

xxx

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR THE ARC COPY:

1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there. (I had to wonder: what is with all the naked chests on her covers? *G*)
Please leave your e-mail!

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two extra entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

(Four total entries possible.)
It is not necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.

* This contest is open to US and Canada only.
* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.
* This contest will close 10:00 PM (Central) on April 15, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

Monday, March 28, 2011

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Last week was slower reading. I Am The Chosen King took until Tuesday but I didn't get far on any books the rest of the week. First I was late each night getting ready to go away. Then I let my almost 7 year old grandson read Alice in Wonderland on my Kindle for most of the ride to Orlando. Saturday I helped watch the young'uns by the pool and Sunday we spent the day at Disney and Old Town so little reading. There was almost no computer time as the internet was bogged when I tried to go on it at 10-11 each night.

So I only finished two books. I did the three reviews that got posted; two with Giveaways; an author Guest Post; an Author Q&A Interview and some winner posts.

I visited some blogs early in the week but nothing after Wednesday as I was focused on cleaning off my desk. *Sigh*

I am really enjoying this even though I am only 60% through. I have read Patricia Rice before and she has a certain magic that pulls you in.

Product Description"Patricia Rice is a master storyteller."
-Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of Never Less than a LadyMagic is her birthright...
The daughter of one of the strongest magical lineages, Ninian Malcom Siddons is a powerful witch. Determined to only use her magic for good, she lives a simple, solitary life as a healer in her village, where she meets Drogo.A man of science doesn't believe in anything he can't see...
Lord Drogo Ives believes only logic and science can explain the wonders of the universe and doesn't believe the local folklore about Malcolm witches and Ives men, until he meets Ninian.
Despite the odds against them and their (many) differences, the bond between Drogo and Ninian grows stronger each moment they are together... until the chaos and danger surrounding them forces each to decide: their love... or their lives...

Product Description
"Tantalizing...Ms. Baker kept me intrigued and enthralled...
a thought-provoking novel not to be missed."-Rendezvous
The last of the Murrays...
Christina Murray is elated to inherit her family's ancestral home in Scotland. But upon her arrival she is confronted by her breathtakingly handsome new neighbor, Ian Douglas...and an ancient family curse that comes with the castle.
A violent legacy of passion...
Seduced by Ian's easy Scottish charm by day, Christina dreams at night of three raven-haired beauties, ancestors who fell victim to the curse one generation after another: Katrine, the fiery Jacobite supporter who lost her heart to an Englishman; Jeanne, an accused witch; and Mairi, who shared a forbidden passion with the King of England.
Now it's Christina's turn to lie in that cursed bed... and loving Ian might just cost her life.

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Last week we had fun sharing about our nationalities and about St. Patrick customs. Winnie & Jane - I'll have my son give me something this week in Chinese to share with you. You mean they celebrate St. Patrick's Day in China? Doesn't that seem odd? Then again it is a "small world after all" and Mystica is right that most of us are mixed decent and we might live anywhere. Jennifer was the natural born Irish lass.

The Winner from Enquiring Minds Week #29 is: tooncesmom. tooncesmom- please pick a book from the Love Books List for Giveaway or remainging Christmas Giveaway Books and let me know your choice, your address and a choice of bookmarks if desired. Or let me know what credit you want or book you want from Book Depository if international.

This meme is hosted by Dollycas Thoughts for Thursdays - which are hard for me to make. The goal is to get to know our fellow bloggers and visitors better. Each week Dolly asks some questions for us to answer and then link up. I am late doing the post but I am trying to to participate as I would like to learn more about blogger and follower friends.

WEEK 30 QUESTIONS

If you live outside of the United States replace your home country for the United States in these questions.

1. Have you ever traveled outside of the United States?

Yes - I wish I had some of my Europe pictures from 2005. We flew into London and then took the train to Antwerp to take a 15 day Viking River Rhine cruise that was WONDERFUL! But here are pictures from our transatlantic cruise from Spain to Florida in 2008.

Above - amazing food markets in Cadiz.

Left - Interesting sights in Casablanca and right beautiful Madeira port entrance.We also have been to the Bahamas several times, Los Cabos, Mexico and I have been to Canada - Prince Edward Island, Montreal and Toronto on different occasions.

2. If you could pack up today on a vacation and money was no issue where would you go?

Hard decision as I want to go to Israel, would love to do a Mediterranean cruise and would like to visit China. But I think I would choose Wales with side trips to Scotland and Ireland.

Rules: a) Must be a follower; b) Share a comment on any (or all) of the three questions above.
Open internationally and an international winner may get a smaller book or a $5.00 GC if I decide the mailing is too much.
I will pick a Comment winner from all comments made by Friday, April 1 at 10PM central.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Happy Friday! It's hard to believe we are nearly at the end of March! My posts may be a bit spotty this next week. We travel to Orlando over the weekend to celebrate my father's 87th birthday. We will return Monday for one day and then head out to Texas for our son's graduation from his Air Force program. We will bring him back with us for a visit before he goes to his assigned base.

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

So far I have posted 18 groups of 16 books to find new homes!

I am continuing to include the full list updated with chosen books crossed off until I get around to deleting the crossed off books. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want! I am happy to say that so far about151 books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the correct number sent out.

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.
I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $5.00 and $6.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy. :o)

TO ENTER:

Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists. CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 10:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up past midnight to do the winner post!
I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings before the next Pick post.WINNERS PLEASE CHECK THE WIN POST ON FRIDAYS AND E-MAIL ME YOUR ADDRESS at mesreads@gmail.com. I will confirm receipt of the addresses. If I have the winners e-mail I will send a reminder in a week or so....

Thanks for helping these books find new homes!!

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Group #11
Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown
Hothouse Orchid by Stuart Woods - CD Audio
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Snow in April by Rosamunde Pilcher
Looking Back by Belva Plain
The Ring on Her Finger by Elizabeth BevarlyRainmaker by John Grisham - Audio Tapes

List #1 Circle of Stars by Anna Lee WaldoAlmost Single by Advaita Kala

Pick #2
Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann
The Crush by Sandra Brown
The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross